Yew Static Recurve build along.

[Msturm]

Well I am making a yew flat bow. I have done this before, but not with such a severly deflexed stave.  So this will be my first go at recurving tips in hopes that I get a pretty sweet looking and shooting bow.

It is currently 69 inches. I make most of my bows about this length but they are all straight flat bows.   I draw to 27.5.  If I wanna put some static curves in it should I leave it long? or cut it down some?  I am shooting for 55lbs at 28.

It is just starting to bend at floor tiller. This is the stiffest piece of Yew I have ever worked with.

Any tips on recurving Yew. Boiling and setting with a heat gun is my thought.

Thanks!

[Del the cat]

Nice looking stave.
Leave it long, you can always cut it down later.
"Severely" deflexed?
I think that's just nice and it will balance out the reflexed tips nicely.
Personally I'd go for static recurves (flipped tips) as it will make tillering easier. Just get the bow virtually finished then flip the tips.
Leave the tips wide to allow some adjustment of string line when the tips are flipped.
Del

[leonwood]

With your drawlength I would not go longer than 64" ntn. With yew boiling and then setting with the heat gun the next day always works best for me.

[Msturm]

Thanks guys!

[Ozi Sapling]

Mmmm. Yew.
Some of us can only dream.
Would love to see your progress on this one.  Good luck.

[Msturm]

got it bending decent at floor tiller. low braced it to about 2 inches... Here is the first pull to 12 inches at 35 lbs.



I kept working on the stiff spots and removing wood to drop weight...

Here it is a couple hours later pulling 40 at 20 with a 4 inch brace. Tiller looks much better to me.



I put a 5 gallon bucket of water on the campfire and boiled it for 20 minutes and then bent it over a log.  I think I need deeper recurves so i will give it another go tomorrow.

but here it is with the flipped tips. I will also toast the bends to set them tomorrow.



I will let you know how it comes out!

Thanks!

[simk]

better keep it on the caul when heating or it will spring back immediately. cheers

[Ozi Sapling]

What does 'on the caul' mean Simk?  I've seen that term a few times on this forum, but it's not in the glossary.  Thanks!

Looking good Msturm. Keep the updates coming!

[Eric Krewson]

A caul for bending;

[Del the cat]

Caul, form, former, template... all mean much the same thing.
Del

[Msturm]

I wanna give a huge shout out to Weylin Olive from Swiftwood Bows for answering questions from a total stranger! your help has been incredibly valuable. Good on ya buddy.

Did a bit of work on the tips today.  String still aligned nicely through the handle just eyeballed it during the bend and got lucky.

Check out my super high tech bending form and Boiling system!  Top of the line gear makes the work so much easier. lol.













Thanks for following along.

[Msturm]

braced to 2 inches.  Pulled 45 at 12 inches.  Noticed a few stiff spots. more scraping to come.

[ohma2]

Starting to look good.i like yew with that roller coaster grain.

[Msturm]

Here is a bit more from yesterday.

She developed a bit of twist early on.  A bit of heat, and some careful tillering got it back to working shape.  Here it is at its worst.



Now that there is no worries about the string coming off, back to the scrape and tiller cycle. Pulling 45 at 18.



After I get to about 24 inches on the tiller tree I don't use the tree any more and start short drawing the bow to see how it bends in the hand.  I use a lot of video for this process and I like it alot.   I am guessing this is being pulled to about 27.  One more day of tillering and sanding and shooting in to come.



My dog and I find moose sheds fairly often. So moose antler overlays it is! 


Done for the night.  It still needs to loose about 6 lbs and I have two little adjustments to make on the tiller but here it is at full brace with a real string. Tips are on, but need to be prettied up quite a bit.



Thanks for following along.  There will be more to come tomorrow.

[Hawkdancer]

Nice job!  Looking forward to seeing the finished bow!  With all that high tech equipment, next thing we know you'll be having running water! !
Hawkdancer